By Jordan Long
The Colorado Avalanche will be looking to improve the team this summer. Free agency starts July 1st. Colorado needs to make a decision on a backup goaltender
Colorado would like to keep Jonathan Bernier. His play in net was a large part of the Avalanche’s success. Bernier was the starter when Semyon Varlamov was ruled out for the regular season and postseason on March 31st. He went 19-13-3 with a 2.85 goals against average and save percentage of .913. Colorado made the playoffs. In the 1st-round against Nashville Bernier was mediocre in 4 games with a 3.87 goals against average and a save percentage of .883.
The Avalanche would like to keep him. The problem could be money. Bernier played like a starting goaltender and shined in the regular season. He may be in for a large payday. If Colorado is unsuccessful there are other options. Those include Anton Khudobin and Kari Lehtonen .
Khudobin is the better option. He started in 29 games and went 16-6-7 with a 2.56 goals against average and a save percentage of .913 backing up Tuukka Rask in Boston. In the playoffs, he appeared in 1 game for 26 minutes and 37 seconds making 8 saves.
Lehtonen’s record with the Dallas Stars was 15-14-3. His goals against average was 2.56. Lehtonen was still able to stop the puck with a save percentage of .912.
The Avalanche have plenty of options when it comes to free agency. General Manager Joe Sakic will do what he feels is best for the hockey team. He knows the backup goaltender is important, especially since Varlamov hasn’t been able to play a full season since 2016. He knows this is one position he must fill.
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